I'm not sure about every state but I'm a volunteer EMS and the non injured person is NOT allowed to ride IN the ambulance. That's stuff you see on TV.
Nor do we allow anyone to follow us at the rate of speed we go. You WILL get pulled over for not just speeding but following an emergency vehicle. Ticket writing time is going to far exceed the time it would have taken to unhook your RV.
So its a moot point about whether to unhook or not. Once your mate is
IN the rescue squad they are in the BEST hands possible. It's time for you to take a deep breath of relief, and attend to you rig. If you are RV'ing and not sure where the hospital is you can call 911 back and they will instruct you where they were transported. You will not be reprimanded for doing so.
As far as if it were you and worrying about the DW getting the rig set up or driving it? THE best thing about RV'ing is the wonderful, helpful group of people we are surrounded with at CG's Neither you nor your wife would have had 'any' trouble getting someone there to help you, including taking either on of you to the hospital and most likely staying there with you for support.
Hope she is doing fine. Keep us updated.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
There's two issues I was driving at:
1.) Hooked up/I'm hurt...wife can't unhitch (back injury)...sure, someone would surely step up to help, but that would take time...if DW decided to roll out trailer and all, still has time and effort undoing all the service connections, stowing away movables in the RV (televisions, etc.), pulling chocks and everything
2.) Hooked up/person other than me is hurt...whether I decided to roll with or without the trailer, there's still time spent--either unhooking TV from TT or unhooking utilities, etc.
Re. non-injured person can't ride in ambulance...because we had our five year old with us, no way were they going to let son and I ride with DW en route to hospital...followed in truck, after 15 minutes or so of disconnecting TV from RV and preparing to roll
If you're hooked up when something happens, one way or the other you're at least going to spend some time that could better be spent en route to help/depending on who has the emergency, may need to impose on others to get ready to roll
(this is what we're going to do from now on...others may--and obviously do--disagree)
* This post was
edited 10/27/11 06:34am by trailernovice *
Glenn and Toni
2011 Palomino Puma 25BH
2012 Tundra double cab 4.6 V8 with tow package
Reese round bar w/d with sway control
I've done both. But if I stay hooked up it's because I'm only sleeping & will be on my way early in the morning.
One time 20 minutes would have made the difference between life and death for my dog. He'd gotten into some strychnine at a campground (didn't know they were using it) and if I'd had to unhook before racing him to an emergency vet he'd have been dead before I got him there.
And then there was last winter when I camped in unseasonably cold weather for us So. Californians. I knew I wasn't going anywhere for the 2 nights I was camping, so opted to keep my trailer hitched up. Good thing I did, as we ended up with snow overnight on the last night & I would have had a heck of a time getting things hitched up easily the morning I needed to leave. Things were frozen solid when I got up and because I was still hitched I could easily pull out and go. It was safe to drive, but I sure wouldn't have wanted to try getting everything thawed out before hitching up.
What concerns me more is having someone along who knows the rig and how to work everything should I become incapacitated. When my dog got poisoned a friend drove up to bring the trailer home (we swapped cars). She'd watched me unhook, but had never done it herself, nor had she driven my trailer. Fortunately for everyone, she's very level-headed & got it home without incident. And my dog survived.
Having a back-up plan that works for you is what I think is the best lesson learned by the OP. Hope your wife makes a full recovery.
On the road and happy with Jed, my four-legged camping buddy.
'06 Eddie Bauer Expedition
'13 Starcraft 265RLB Autumn Ridge
rockhillmanor wrote: I'm not sure about every state but I'm a volunteer EMS and the non injured person is NOT allowed to ride IN the ambulance. That's stuff you see on TV.
.
I guess procedures vary depending where you are. When I fell and hit my head (out cold for 5 minutes), last june at Zion the Paramedics were quickly on scene. They told me I needed to get to the ER ASAP and I was in no shape to argue (didn't know what month it was, who was president, where we were etc). They let my wife ride up front with the EMT and I in the back and off we went code 2 (lights flashing, no siren and seriously hauling butt). After about ten minutes the EMT decided to divert to the station to pick up another EMT as he was concerned I would stroke out on him and he wanted to have some additional help available. Once the second paramedic joined us they slowed down for the remainder of the 45 mile drive to St. George (the nearest ER to Zion). Everything turned out fine and we were nothing but impressed with their professionalism. You guys do a one hell of a job and as we vets like to hear; Thank you for your service!
I'm in Ga and I have never seen a spouse refused carriage in the ambulance.
ForestRiverTeach wrote:
One time 20 minutes would have made the difference between life and death for my dog. He'd gotten into some strychnine at a campground
If you are dealing with non-corrosive poisons where vomiting is desired, 1 tbsp of hydrogen peroxide will induce vomiting almost immediately.
But unless you KNOW that vomiting will not cause more harm do NOT induce vomiting. First, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4-ANI-HELP). The call will cost you $75, but they will give you first aid information and provide a case number and 800# hotline for your vet to call. When your vet calls in, the person they reach will already have the specific medical data your vet needs to properly treat the specific poison and animal in your situation. When my dog drank tylenol liquid, the vet was hesitant to call but afterwards was very impressed with the info and advice she received and was happy she had it available. Needless to say, I'm sold on the service.
* This post was
edited 10/27/11 09:18am by Starcraft21SSO *
trailernovice wrote: hmmmmmmm.....I was in a hurry to get to the hospital because......let's see....
my wife hit the ground and landed wrong...said, 'call 911...i think i broke my back (she was right)...and went off in an ambulance for a 25 mile ride to the closest hospital...strapped to the stretcher with a neck collar and tied down with tape everywhere...and i'm thinkin' she might be paralyzed....
i GUESS that's a good enough reason to high-tail it to the hospital...whaddayathink?
Unless you are her doctor I can't see where 20 minutes is going to make a difference. If it was life threatening I'd be in the ambulance with my wife and worry about my car or truck later.
ARE YOU SERIOUS? I guess some of us actually love our wives.
I'm afraid I agree with the 20 minutes not making any difference. The emergency workers need space and time to work and so usually you find yourself just racing to a waiting room....
Starcraft21SSO wrote: I'm in Ga and I have never seen a spouse refused carriage in the ambulance.
ForestRiverTeach wrote:
One time 20 minutes would have made the difference between life and death for my dog. He'd gotten into some strychnine at a campground
If you are dealing with non-corrosive poisons where vomiting is desired, 1 tbsp of hydrogen peroxide will induce vomiting almost immediately.
But unless you KNOW that vomiting will not cause more harm do NOT induce vomiting. First, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4-ANI-HELP). The call will cost you $75, but they will give you first aid information and provide a case number and 800# hotline for your vet to call. When your vet calls in, the person they reach will already have the specific medical data your vet needs to properly treat the specific poison and animal in your situation. When my dog drank tylenol liquid, the vet was hesitant to call but afterwards was very impressed with the info and advice she received and was happy she had it available. Needless to say, I'm sold on the service.
Their site says a $65.00 consultation fee may be charged to your credit card. My vet's emergency phone service is free. Guess what number I have in my phone?
Frank and Jean
EM1 USN ret
DAV Life Member
'09 Rockwood Roo 233S
'03 1500 Silverado LS
The things that come to those that wait will be the crappy junk left by those that got there 1st.
Remember; never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
man o man, has this thing wandered....the thread started with, 'here's why we will always unhitch in future'...to poison-eating dogs...to the cost of talking with a veterinarian about poison-eating dogs...to proving you love your wife by riding with her in the ambulance even though caring for a little boy...to everywhere and back again
truth to tell, sorry i started the thread...meant to share an experience and thoughts...never thought THIS topic would stir up so much controversy
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I guess some of us actually love our wives.
